Dancing toy.



N0. 7|],548. Patented 0.012. 2|, I902.

J. TRAV'S.

DANCING TOY.

(Application am my a, 1901.

(No man.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES TRAVIS, OF CASCADE, MONTANA.

DANCING TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,548, dated October 21, 1902.

Application filed May 6, 1901. Serial No. 58,958. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES TRAVIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cascade, Cascade county, State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dancing Toys; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with a claim particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to games and toys, and more especially to that class of devices called figure toys, and the object of the same is to produce a dancing jack capable of executing the particular steps desired by the operator and to the accompaniment of proper music.

To this end the invention consists, broadly, in the combined use of a spring-handle for supporting the figure and independent means for agitating the same by a spring-board; and it consists particularly in the details of construction for carrying out this idea, all as set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective View in outline of the device in use by the operator. a plan view of the spring-board. Fig. III is a side elevation of the spring-board and fulcrum.

In the drawings, 1 is the figure, here shown and usually contemplated as an imitation of the human. form. By preference it is a figure some twelve inches high, whose arms and legs are jointed and whose knees and elbows are jointed, all joints being of any approved type. The trunk or body of the figure is not jointed, and from its back projects rigidly a handle 2, by which the left hand of the operator supports the figure. This handle itself is fiexible,wherebya slight motion of the hand will produce considerable movement of the figure.

' 3 is the spring-board, so called, though it might be of metal, and near its inner end it has a cross-piece 4, beyond which its inner extremity 5 projects for a slight distance.

6 is the fulcrum, which is a blockof wood or similar material.

Fig. II is,

In use the fulcrum is laid on a chair or seat, as shown in Fig. I, the inner end of the springboard laid thereon, and the operator sits, as indicated,with his limbs passing over the ends of the cross-piece 4, as will be clear. With the finger of his right hand he taps gently upon the spring-board at a point forward of the cross-piece and the fulcrum, this tapping keeping time with the beats of the music being played. Meanwhile with his left hand he agitates the figure by manipulating the springhandle. Practice will develop considerable agility, and I have found that when the trunk is carried or moved by the handle in one hand and the legs are caused to move by a flexible spring-board, which is vibrated by the other hand, the figure can be caused to execute quite a variety of steps, such as clog-dances, 850. I have also found that it is not possible to cause the figureto execute any variety of steps unless there are two instrumentalities for controlling the figure, and these two are governed by the different hands of the operator. In automatic toys it will beclear. that whatever step is executed it is always the same. In manually-operated toys the step is rarely the same, and by my invention it will never be twice the same.

What is claimed as new is- In a dancing toy, the combination with the figure having hinged joints, and a spring-handle projecting rearwardly from the trunk of the figure; ofa spring-board independent of such figure and handle and having a crosspiece near its inner end adapted to be held down by the operators limbs while its inner extremity rests on a support, and a fulcrumblock between the support and the springboard at a point forward of said cross-piece, the Whole adapted for operation as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this the 30th day of April, A. D. 1901.

JAMES TRAVIS.

Witnesses:

H. D. HALL, R. T. GOEHAM. 

